Protection Reduction and Diversion: PTAs and the Incidence of Antidumping Disputes

We analyze whether preferential trade agreements (PTAs) affect the incidence and pattern of antidumping (AD) filings. We estimate AD provisions in PTAs have decreased the incidence of intra-PTA AD cases by 33-55% and have increased the number of AD actions against non-PTA members by 10-30%. The net effect of PTA rules on total AD filings is small. Our results are robust to alternative estimation approaches and controlling for a myriad of other PTA-related phenomena. Our results suggest a protection analogue to the "trade creation-trade diversion" impact of PTAs. PTA members are spared from AD actions but non-PTA members face even greater AD scrutiny.